Electric arc lamp



(No Model.) I 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. .H. R. WARD. ELECTRIC ARG LAMP.

No. 449,237. Patented Mar. 31, 1891.

WITNE N w i: V J HR. W v wfl W i H/s flTTORA /Z F m mj diam/x (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. H. R. WARD. ELECTRIC ARC LAMP.

w a m Qw N|.Y/ m 4 R M j HM M Tm NW w MW (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. H-. R. WARD. ELECTRIC ARC LAMP.

No. 449,231 Patented Mar. 31, 1891.

M20540 MWMW (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

J. H. R. WARD.

ELECTRIC ARG LAMP.

No. 449,237. 7" Patented Mar. 31, 1891.

$ M w/w (N0 Modl.) 5 SheetsSheet 5.

J. H. R. WARD. ELECTRIC ARC LAMP.

No. 449,237. Patented Mar. 31, 1891.

4 yaw 61 INJE JTU Ja/wv HR Wfi/ifl UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN ll. R. \VARD, OF NET/V YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE UNIVERSAL ARC LAMP COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC-ARC LAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,237, dated March 31, 1891.

Application filed December 8, 1890. Serial No. 373,943. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN H. R. TARD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric-Arc-Lamp Regulators, (Case No. 5,) of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to the details of mechanical construction of that type of electric-arc lamp which is adapted for especial use with incandescent electric-lighting circuits or those circuits in which the current is of comparatively low electro-motive force.

The object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient means in connection with the lamp for ventilating the regulating-coils, for connecting up the coils according to the circuit in which it is included, and, in general, for supplying a lamp of improved principles of mechanical construction.

The invention involves numerous details, which are brought forth in the accompanying drawings, reproduced from a full-size working model, except that the dimensions of some of the parts are slightly different from corresponding parts in the model.

Figures 1 and 2 are vertical elevations, taken at right angles to each other, of the exterior of a complete lamp on a small scale, a portion of the chimney being broken away in both figures and a portion of the globe being removed in Fig. 2. My invention relates particularly to the upper part of the lamp shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the chimney of the lamp, partially in section. Fig. 4. is an exterior elevation of that portion of the chimney for holding the regulating-coil. Fig. 5 is a plan view of Fig. 3, assuming that the upper part or top of the chimney is omitted. Fig. 0 is an interior view of the central portion of Figs. 1 and 2. The view is taken in the same direction as that of Fig. 2. A portion of the front casting is broken away, as indicated by the section lines. The lower part or casting, forming the base-plate for the mechanism and magnet and frame for holding the mechanism, is shown in section, while the pillars or rods connecting the upper and lower castings are partly omitted at the top; but in practice they extend to the upper casting and are secured thereto. Fig. 6 illustrates that the type of lamp is that involving not a frictional clutch, but a rack-gearing on the carbon-holder engaging with a pinion operated by mechanism which is controlled by an armature of a magnet. As the particular kind of mechanism has nothing to do with the present invention, the same is omitted in all figures except Fig. 6. The magnet is provided with pole-pieces extending to the right, and the armature reaches from one pole-piece to the other, sui'iicient space being left whereby the armature may oscillate upon an axis perpendicular to that of the magnet and coinciding with that of the pinion. The armature has aprojeetion at its upper end bent over to the right, which by an oscillating motion now and then operates the mechanism according to the amount of current passing through the magnet. This mechanism forms the subjectmatter of another application. Fig. 5 is a vertical elevation of the interior of the middle portion of the lamp, the same as in Fig. 6, except that the view is at right angles to that in Fig. 6, except that the mechanism is almost entirely omitted, except that the parts in section in Fig. 6 are not all in section in Fig. '7, and except that the portions broken away for the sake of clearness are not exactly the same in both figures. The upper portions of the figures are identical with the lower portions of Figs. 3 and a. Fig.8 shows, partly in diagram, the electrical circuits and connections throughout the lamp from one pole to the other, and it shows two such lamp-circuits connected in parallel; but in practice it is usually preferable to put them in parallel in airs.

The letters of reference in Fig. 6 identify corresponding parts in one or more of the preceding figures.

0. represents a cylindrical casing for surrounding the inclosed mechanism, electric contacts, magnets, &c. It is supported upon rotary catches or projections 11, suspended from the lower plate or casting c, hereinafter described. hen these are turned part way around, the casing 11 will drop. The upper end of the casin g extends into the upper casting d.

0 represents an externalview of the baseplate for the mechanism frame, magnet, and upper plate or casting d.

c is a diskof insulation located within the casting c, which is cylindrically hollow. It is 'made preferably of some kind of stone-as,

for instance, slate. It is provided with a circular hole, through which passes a carbonholder with such other holes as may be necessary for the passage of wires and with areshaped grooves for the passage of the rods or pillars e, which are three in number, and which are attached to the casting c by means of screws f, which pass into the ends of the pillars e. The rings 9 are screwed down tight against both the casting c and the insulation 0', the screw-threads h extending into the rings g. One or more screws 1', having heads .7 secure the frame m to the insulating-plate c. The central hole in the castingc is so large as toleave merely a supporting-flange n,which helps to uphold the disk 0 of insulating material. The disk 0 is dotted in order to indicate arbitrarilythat it is made of insulating material. The function of the disk 0 is to insulate the frame m and everything attached thereto from the casting c, which is necessarily electrically connected to the rods 0, and hence to the lower-carbon holder 19. The pillars e are tubular at and near both ends, so that the lower screws f and the upper screws f may be screwed into said rods or pillars, and thereby secure the casting b to the casting c.

- cl represents the upper casting, which is supported upon the pillar e, and which in turn supports the element g, which is the chimney of the lamp. The casting (Z consists of an inverted hollow cylindrical piece provided with a peculiarly-shaped ventilatingsupport for the chimney. This support consists of a tube 7", provided with ribs or extensions s, radiating from the outer surface of said tube, said ribs being in the shape of steps, the step being represented by 8'. Upon these steps, there being one step for each rib, rests the chimney q. Through the spaces between the ribs and below the steps 8 may pass air for ventilation. A similar construction is provided at the upper endv of the chimney. Into the tube r screws a smaller tube 1'', also provided with ribs or linear projections, which are lettered 15. There are six ribs provided. Arc-shaped strips of insulation of fireproof material, such as asbestus u, extend along and near the outer edges of said ribs. A subdivided coil of wire of high resistance, such as a German-silver coil r, is wound upon the asbestus. The ribs and asbestos serve to hold the wire coil at the proper distance from the tube 1", while the asbestus itself forms a good fire-proof insulation from the metal ribs t. The asbestus also forms a convenient bad conductor of heat. tube 1 is provided an external screw-thread 1", which carries a cap 4 provided with ribs 8".

8 represents steps corresponding to 8'. Against these steps presses the upper end of the chimney q, so that the cool air which enters at the lower end of the chimney passes out at the upper end between the ribs 3".

The interior of the chimney is lined with a comparative heavy thickness of asbestos g. This asbestus being a poor conductor of heat compared with metal prevents considerably less heat being conducted away to the magnet of the lamp than if it were not present. At the same time it is fire-proof substantially.

The ring to forms a part of the same casting with the cap r. This is the usual ring employed for suspending the lamp.

Between the coil 1) and the asbestus lining q is a cylindrical tubular space 00 for a passage of some of the air passing through the cylinder. I y y y" y y" y" are copper conductors connecting the terminals of the several sections of the subdivided coil i) (see Fig. 3) to the respective terminals of the various electrical devices or parts of the lamp. The wire or conductor y connects with the frame m at the binding-post Y. The conductor g which is mounted upon the block 2 of insulating material. Binding-posts Y Y Y are provided upon the block 2, are insulated from each other, and are respectively connected permanently with the conductors'y y' 11". The conductor ft/"' is connected to one of the terminals Y of the lamp, the other terminal beingindicated by Y. The terminals Y" and Y are connected to On the upper end of the connects with the uppermost binding-post Y,

the poles A respectively of the generator E.

A screw-plug C is adapted to pass through one or the other openings made in the conductor D, and to press againstanyone of the binding-posts Y Y, &c. The conductor D is enlarged, as indicated in the lamp by D,

which passes through the entire length of the block 2. When the screw-plug O enters'holes E insaid enlarged portion D, it presses against one or the other of thebinding-posts Y Y, 650., so that, accordingto the hole in which the'screw plug is introduced one or more of the sections of the subdivided coil 2; will be included in circuit with the carbon-holders. The enlarged portion D forms a projection to the terminal Y" which is properly insulated by washers F from the casting (1. Similar washers F insulate the terminal Y from the casting d. The binding-post Y connects bythe conductor G with the magnet H. The same terminal is connected by the conwith the lower-carbon holder 19. passes through one of the where it issues from said with said carbon-holder. projection m, provided ductor G The conductor G tubes 0, (see Fig. 1,) tube and connects The frame m has a with a hole, through which passes the uppercarbon holder 19. The current through the conductor 1 connects with the binding-post Y, which is connected to the frame m. From thence it passes to the projection m to the upper-carbon holder 19, thence through the are I to the lower carbon-holder p, thence through the conductor G, then branching it enters both the binding-post Y"" and the magnet H to a brush J, which bears against the upper-carbon holder 1)". This holder is provided with a hole L, so that when the carbon has fallen or has been fed to approximately its lowest position the brush J ceases contact with the holder, which is in the form of a tube. In order to effect this cutting out, the brush J is bent outward, as indicated by the bent portion J The brush is attached to insulation M, which is mounted upon the pole-piece II of the magnet H. It is found in practice to be much more effectual to have the hole L than to have the same filled with insulating material, which is likely to become burned at the edges by sparkingor to become warped by atmospheric changes or to become covered with particles of dust which serve gradually to disintegrate the insulation. The brush J is of such a tension and of such a length that when it arrives opposite the hole L it will not be in contact with the holder p, so that when the carbon-holder is in its lowest position the magnet H will be cut out of circuit. At any time desirable the carbon-holders p and p may be cut out of circuit by circuit-controllers N.

It was stated above that electrical contact from the frame m to the carbon-holder c was made at the projection m. It is also formed at the projection m", through which is a hole for the passage of the carbon-holder c. The holes in the projections m and m" are as nearly as possible equal to the diameter of the carbon-holder 0, while the surfaces of all three elements are bright, so that the electrical contact is certain. The poles H of the magnet have horizontal polar projections H", which project over the extremities of the armature II.

\Vhen the lamp is included in a circuit 'carrying a current of high electro-motive force as compared with another current carrying a lower electro-motive force, the lamp may be adapted for each currentby varying the number of seconds of the coil 1; in direct circuit. The whole of said coil is always in circuit; but when the screw-plug O is put in contact with the binding-post Y for instance, the uppermost section of the coil becomes a shunt to the other coils, so that the resistance of the lamp becomes less than when the screwplug 0 is removed. The resistance may be further decreased by placing said screw-plug successively in contact with the bindingposts Y Y Y. It may be noticed that the magnet H, which is carried by the frame m, is not only electrically insulated, but is also insulated as to heat from the coil 1), which on account of its comparatively high resistance becomes very hot. The slate disk 0 is practically, on account of its mass, a non-conductor of heat, while the air-space between the upper part of the frame on and the casting (Z is also practically a non conductor of heat. Further, the disk 0' is well ventilated, so that it will not collect very much heat. The result is that the magnet H does not rise to a very high temperature. At leastits temperature is much lower than is generally attained by other lamps of this class, in so far as my experience is concerned. The ventilation through the lamp-chimney is also a means of maintaining the temperature of the magnet H as low as possible.

The object in maintaining or obtaining a small increase of temperature of the magnet H over the ordinaryatmospheric temperature maybe stated as follows: As the resistance increases with the heat, the resistance of the wire of the magnet H gradually increases, so that a considerable of time passes before the lamp reaches its normal condition. By the mechanical construction of the lamp this interval of time is considerably shortened.

The carbon-holder p is provided along its length with a rack 19'', which is engaged with a pinion P, mounted upon the same shaft with the armature 11. By the combined actions of the force of the armature, gravitation, or springs, the feed of the carbon-holder p is regulated. The details of this mechanism do not form the subject-matter of the present invention, and are not therefore described fully.

There are certain other details as to shape, proportions, means for connecting parts together, and for making them detachable that are not described, as they do not form the subject-matter of the present invention.

I claim as my invention- 1. In an electric-arc lamp, the combination of a casting d, forming a cover to the mechanism of the lamp, provided with a tubular projection 4", upon which are radial projections or ribs 8, provided with steps .9, the said elements 0', s, and s forming an integral part with the casting (Z, a vertical tube 0", having its lower end screwed into the tube 1' and provided with longitudinal ribs 25 at substan tially equal distancesffrom each other, fireproof strips to, of insulating material, extending along the outer edges of the ribs 1, a coil of wire r, of German silver or of similar material having a high resistance, wound upon said strips u and around the tube 4* and divided into sections whose terminals are 3 y y", &c., means, such as a screw-plug C, for connecting one or more of the sections of the coil in circuit with the carbon-holders p and p of the said lamp, a tubular cap a, screwed upon the upper end of the tube a" and provided with radial ribs 8, having steps 3', and a cylindrical casing q, provided with an interior lining of a heat-insulating substance of tire proof material, the said casing having its ends pressing, respectively, upon the steps 8' and s..

2. In an electric-arc lamp, the combination of a base-plate or casting 0, containinga disk of heatdnsulating material, such as slate 0, whose interior diameter is less than the inter rior diameter of the casting c, a frame m, carrying the lamp mechanism, and lamp-magnet mounted upon and secured to said disk for the purpose, as described, of insulating the magnet H of the lamp as to heat from all metal portions of the lamp except the frame m, pillars 6, having external and internal screwthreads upon their lower ends and internal screw-threads upon their upper ends, screws f, passing through the casting a into the lower ends of said pillars, screw-rings g, located upon the said external screw-threads and pressing upon both said disks and said casting, and an upper casting 01, supported upon -said pillars and secured thereto by screws f passing through said cover and into the upper ends of said pillars, and a cylindrical casin g a, whose upper end fits within said casting d, and whose lower end surrounds the lower casting 0, means, such as rotary projections or buttons 1), being provided on the lower part of said casting a for the purpose, as de- I JOHN H. :R. WARD.

Witnesses:

EDWARD P. THOMPSON,

E. G. DUVALL, Jr. 

